EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

January 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

Over the last year, through outright denials or staggeringly slow responses to public records requests, refusals to discuss important decisions and misleading public statements, the district established itself as the public agency most hostile to transparency in San Diego.

A court hearing about a potential gag order in the Mickey Kasparian civil case took an unexpected turn Wednesday when a lawyer for three female accusers alleged the San Diego labor leader is under criminal investigation.

Marijuana possession still will be prohibited at eight Border Patrol checkpoints in California, a reminder that state and federal laws collide when it comes to pot. The U.S. government classifies marijuana as a controlled substance, like heroin and LSD….The checkpoints, located up to 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Mexico, are considered a final line of defense against immigrants who elude agents at the border. They also have been a trap for U.S. citizens carrying drugs, even tiny bags of marijuana.

Fear of fire losses has belted stocks of Pacific Gas & Electric, vulnerable to penalties due to the Northern California fires, and Edison International, which could be hurt financially by the Southern California fires. Stock of San Diego–based Sempra, parent of San Diego Gas & Electric, has been riding along fine, since San Diego has been lucky enough to avoid fires.